Crocosmia plant named ‘Walrhead’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Crocosmia  named ‘Walrhead’ that is characterized by an upright clumping habit, short height, and free-flowering sterile red flowers that face reasonably upward. In combination these traits set ‘Walrhead’ apart from all other existing varieties of  Crocosmia  known to the inventor.

Genus: Crocosmia.

Species: ×hybrida.

Denomination: Walrhead.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofmontbretia grown for use as an ornamental herbaceous perennial for thelandscape. The new cultivar is known botanically as Crocosmia and willhereinafter be referred to as ‘Walrhead’.

‘Walrhead’ is an induced hybrid that resulted from a formal long termbreeding program that was established by the inventor in Ireland in 1959and continued to 1972 when the breeding program was moved to England andcontinued from 1973 to the present time. The objectives of the breedingprogram were to produce plants that are free-flowering, even whencrowded, with reasonably upward facing flowers, good flower size, with arange of flower colors and attractive markings.

The female parent of ‘Walrhead’ is an unnamed Crocosmia hybrid and themale parent is an unnamed Crocosmia hybrid. ‘Walrhead’ resulted from acomplex series of induced hybridization between the plants Crocosmiapottsii (unpatented), Crocosmia masonorum (unpatented), Crocosmia‘Solfatarre’ (unpatented), Crocosmia ‘His Majesty’ (unpatented) andCrocosmia ‘Emily McKenzie’ (unpatented). These induced crosses wereconducted by the inventor in a cultivated area of Sussex, England,producing unnamed hybrids that were crossed in further inducedhybridization. ‘Walrhead’ was selected from the resulting seedlings bythe inventor in Sussex in 1992.

‘Walrhead’ is a clumping perennial ornamental that is sterile, longblooming, and exhibits red flowers. The closest comparison plant isCrocosmia ‘Walberton Yellow’ (unpatented). The characteristics thatdistinguish ‘Walrhead’ from the comparison plant are plant height andflower color. The distinguishing characteristics of ‘Walrhead’, thatmake it unique from all other Crocosmia known to the inventor, areflower color, short height, flower aspect, sterility, and freeflowering.

‘Walrhead’ was first asexually propagated in 1994 by the inventor in acultivated area of Sussex, England. The method used for asexualpropagation was division. Since that time under careful observation,successive generations have been determined stable and true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thedistinguishing characteristics of the new Crocosmia variety known as‘Walrhead’. These traits in combination distinguish ‘Walrhead’ from allother existing varieties of Crocosmia known to the inventor. ‘Walrhead’has not been tested under all possible conditions and phenotypedifferences may be observed with variations in environmental, climatic,and cultural conditions, however, without any variance in genotype.

-   -   1. Crocosmia ‘Walrhead’ exhibits flowers that face reasonably        upward.    -   2. Crocosmia ‘Walrhead’ exhibits an upright clumping habit and        short height.    -   3. Crocosmia ‘Walrhead’ is a perennial ornamental plant for use        in containers and the landscape.    -   4. Crocosmia ‘Walrhead’ blooms over a long period.    -   5. Crocosmia ‘Walrhead’ is presumed sterile.    -   6. Crocosmia ‘Walrhead’ is free-flowering.    -   7. Crocosmia ‘Walrhead’ exhibits red flowers.    -   8. Crocosmia ‘Walrhead’ continues flowering even when        overcrowded.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color drawings illustrate the overall appearance of thenew Crocosmia variety ‘Walrhead’ showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The drawing on sheet 1 illustrates the plant from a side perspective.

The drawing on sheet 2 is a close-up view of the flowers.

Colors in the photographs may differ from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description, which more accurately describe theactual colors of the new variety ‘Walrhead’. Drawings were made usingconventional techniques and although flower and foliage colors mayappear different from actual colors due to light reflectance, they areas accurate as possible by conventional photography.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new Crocosmia cultivarnamed ‘Walrhead’. Information was compiled in Arroyo Grande, Calif.Color determinations are in accordance with the 1952 Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart except where general color terms of ordinarydictionary significance are used. The growing requirements are similarto the species.

-   Botanical classification: Crocosmia ‘Walrhead’.-   Species: ×hybrida.-   Common name: Montbretia.-   Use: Ornamental landscape and container plant.-   Type: Herbaceous perennial.-   Parentage: The hybrid ‘Walrhead’ resulted from the induced    hybridization between the following parent plants:    -   -   Female parent plant.—Unnamed Crocosmia hybrid.        -   Male parent plant.—Unnamed Crocosmia hybrid.-   Growth rate: Moderately vigorous.-   Growth habit: Upright and clumping habit.-   Plant height: 50-80 cm. in height at maturity.-   Plant width: 30-60 cm. in width at maturity.-   Hardiness: USDA Zone 7.-   Propagation: Tissue culture and division are used to asexually    propagate.-   Root system: Thick and fine roots.-   Cultural requirements: Plant in full sun or partial sun and enriched    soil, giving regular water during growth and bloom. Needs some shade    in hottest climates.-   Pollination requirements: None.-   Sexuality: Bisexual.-   Diseases or pests: Susceptible to red spider-mite.-   Cropping time: Approximately 6 months from division to a one-gallon    container.-   Seasonal interest: Red flowers.-   Blooming season: Summer.-   Foliage:    -   -   Type.—Deciduous.        -   Leaf shape.—Linear.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Leaf apex.—Sharply acute.        -   Leaf attachment.—Clasping.        -   Leaf division.—Simple.        -   Leaf margins.—Entire.        -   Stipules.—None.        -   Leaf color (adaxial surface).—A combination of 143A and 146A            is present on each individual leaf.        -   Leaf color (abaxial surface).—A combination of 143A and 146A            is present on each individual leaf.        -   Leaf surface (adaxial surface).—Glabrous.        -   Leaf surface (abaxial surface).—Glabrous.        -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.        -   Color of veins (abaxial and adaxial surfaces).—A combination            of 143A and 146A is present on each surface of each            individual leaf.        -   Leaf length.—20-40 cm. in length.        -   Leaf width.—15-35 mm. in width.        -   Leaf fragrance.—None.-   Flower:    -   -   Flowering months.—July through September.        -   Inflorescence type.—Panicle.        -   Number of flowers per peduncle.—10-20 flowers per peduncle.        -   Dimensions of peduncle.—20-30 cm. in length and 3-5 mm. in            width.        -   Peduncle color.—187A.        -   Peduncle surface.—Glabrous.        -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Self-cleaning.        -   Flower aspect.—Facing horizontally.        -   Flower shape.—Tubular.        -   Depth of flower throat.—15-20 mm. in depth.        -   Diameter across widest part of flower.—35-50 mm. in diameter            across the widest part.        -   Length of flower including calyx, corolla and            petals.—35-45 mm. in length.        -   Flower arrangement.—Flowers alternate in panicles of 3-5            branches.        -   Number of petals.—Six in number.        -   Petals fused or unfused.—Basally fused.        -   Petal shape.—Oblong.        -   Petal margin.—Entire.        -   Petal surface.—Slightly glandular.        -   Petal color (fully opened).—A combination of 41A and 43A is            present on each individual petal.        -   Tube color (inside and outside).—12B.        -   Bud shape.—Ovate and slightly curved.        -   Bud dimensions.—4-7 mm. in diameter and 15-22 mm. in length.        -   Color of bud.—Mostly a combination of 46A and 34A present on            each individual bud, and a combination of 9A and 15A on the            base of each individual bud.        -   Calyx dimensions.—3 mm. in diameter and 3-4 mm. in length.        -   Calyx surface.—Glandular with microscopic parallel lines            present.        -   Calyx color.—187A.        -   Number of sepals in a calyx.—Two in number.        -   Shape of sepal.—Oblong.        -   Sepal apex.—Obtuse.        -   Sepal margins.—Entire.        -   Flower fragrance.—None.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—3 in number.        -   Stamen color.—31C.        -   Stamen dimensions.—25-30 mm. in length and 1 mm. in width.        -   Anther color.—21B.        -   Anther shape.—Linear.        -   Anther dimensions.—5 mm. in length and 1.50 mm. in width.        -   Pollen color.—21B.        -   Amount of pollen.—Moderate amount.        -   Pistils.—One present.        -   Pistil shape.—Filament.        -   Pistil dimensions.—1 mm. in width and 30-40 mm. in length.        -   Color of pistil.—Upper part is 31C and lower part is 12D.        -   Stigma shape.—Trifid, with each segment bifid.        -   Stigma dimensions.—Each segment is 1 mm. in width and            0.50 mm. in length.        -   Stigma color.—11C.        -   Style color.—Upper half is 31C and lower half is 12D.        -   Ovary color.—144B.        -   Ovary shape.—Oval.        -   Ovary dimensions.—2 mm. in width and 5 mm. in height.        -   Ovary position.—Inferior.-   Seed: Plant has not been observed to set seed and is presumed    sterile.

1. A new and distinct variety of Crocosmia plant named ‘Walrhead’ asdescribed and illustrated.